Stern vs. Sarver

[Chaplin]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-sternhunter021811

So David Stern ripped Sarver apart. As much as people hate Sarver, he doesn't hold a candle to the dictator known as David Stern.

 

[Griffin]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-sternhunter021811

So the current owners, at least some of them, may not be all that happy with the way Stern is running things. Could it be that Stern's days as NBA commissioner are numbered? Or will they continue to pay him $10M+ a year to boss them around? I suppose if he can get the owners everything they want in the next CBA then he'll earn his paycheck.

 

[sunsfan88]

Good. Probably the best thing Stern has done.

If only it got Sarver to sell the team.

 

[slinslin]

Not sure what is good about this. Sarver is right on this matter.

 

[elindholm]

It's surprising that Stern has gotten away with his leadership "style" for as long as he has. Isn't there any mechanism for getting rid of him? It has to be clear to everyone by now that he does more harm than good.

 

[slinslin]

It's surprising that Stern has gotten away with his leadership "style" for as long as he has. Isn't there any mechanism for getting rid of him? It has to be clear to everyone by now that he does more harm than good.

I don't really get this, shouldn't the owners be able to vote him off? David Stern does not own the NBA so how does he keep his job all the time?

 

[boisesuns]

Wait, Stern has some issues with the Suns ownership? I would have never figured with the way things have always gone in our favor in big games.

 

[CardsFan88]

Both are complete idiots that had favorable conditions around them which allowed them to succeed despite their idiocy. Obviously Stern (less) than Orangutan $arver.

But it sure looks like $arver knows how to run a business....rofl. He's a small time non-thinker, like every banksta.

No surprise he finally got a lashing from some idiot, that's less of one, than he is. About time.

He probably then proceeded to use that time 'wisely' to push some salary onto another team for 7 future first round draft picks. When will people realize that nothing but idiots are in charge (across all avenues in life...no more readily apparent in sports...than $arver).

 

[carey]

Both are complete idiots that had favorable conditions around them which allowed them to succeed despite their idiocy. Obviously Stern (less) than Orangutan $arver.

But it sure looks like $arver knows how to run a business....rofl. He's a small time non-thinker, like every banksta.

No surprise he finally got a lashing from some idiot, that's less of one, than he is. About time.

He probably then proceeded to use that time 'wisely' to push some salary onto another team for 7 future first round draft picks. When will people realize that nothing but idiots are in charge (across all avenues in life...no more readily apparent in sports...than $arver).

This happened a year ago, and I'm really surprised by your take. I can't believe any fan would stick up for Stern. He's a smug p.rick.

 

[Mainstreet]

Actually I think Sarver's suggestion, that a meeting between just the owners and players could have helped develop a framework for the new CBA. Then both the representatives of the owners and players could have been brought back together to resolve the differences within the framework. I guess Stern just couldn't allow both sides to talk together without restraints. I believe the NBA could better prosper and create a better image without Stern as the Commissioner.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Say what you will about Stern but in 1980, when Stern took over as Executive Vice President of the league the NBA was in a lot of trouble. Those of us that watched the game in the 70's remember how little was actually available to us. Even the playoffs were being given short shrift by the Network (CBS). Back then, it wasn't uncommon to not even show the playoff games until late at night following the prime time shows.

I think he's become a little czar and it's probably time for him to retire but he's had a lot to do with this league surviving and eventually thriving. Some of you might credit the Magic/Bird rivalry or the 84 draft but the NBA had great players and great rivalries long before either of those two events. And a lot of the things he gets blamed for really aren't his doing. Many of the controversial decisions and actions during his term have been made by underlings and outside arbitrators. He's had the power to overrule most of those decisions so he holds some responsibility but he's not quite the evil ogre he's painted to be, IMO.

I know none of this will change anyone's opinion on him. A lot of Suns fans are convinced he's the devil himself, even the ones that don't believe in the devil.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

I agree that Stern has done a lot of good for the league, but by now he is so drunk on his own success that he's out of control. Most people have a limit to how much power they can handle, and Stern is over his.

 

[BC867]

Say what you will about Stern but in 1980, when Stern took over as Executive Vice President of the league the NBA was in a lot of trouble. Those of us that watched the game in the 70's remember how little was actually available to us. Even the playoffs were being given short shrift by the Network (CBS). Back then, it wasn't uncommon to not even show the playoff games until late at night following the prime time shows.

I think he's become a little czar and it's probably time for him to retire but he's had a lot to do with this league surviving and eventually thriving.

You're right, but that was then and this is now. "Now" should be the only consideration of whether he is the best candidate for Commissioner at this time.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Stern needs to be fired. BTW. Sarver's little spat with Stern would definitely show up in how the Suns are treated in the playoffs (and maybe even the draft lottery). I have absolutely no confidence in the integrety of the NBA front office. Any former Chicago Mayor or Illinois governer would probably be an improvement.

 

[Errntknght]

I've been aware of Stern ever since he took over and I haven't liked anything he's done - except when he's backed down from some earlier misteps, like the new plastic ball. Why don't some you guys remind me of the good things you believe he done for the game?

I particularly dislike the direction that refereeing has gone on his watch, and that started almost immediately with the proliferation of detailed rules that were diddled with almost yearly. There were so many details that refs were busy watching lines & body parts and counting times that they stopped watching the actual flow of the plays, which is what really allowed 'flopping' to rise to the fore. Trying to define every little aspect of the game is also what led to coaches doing their best to exploit every rule, which has been detrimental to the game, too.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I've been aware of Stern ever since he took over and I haven't liked anything he's done - except when he's backed down from some earlier misteps, like the new plastic ball. Why don't some you guys remind me of the good things you believe he done for the game?

I particularly dislike the direction that refereeing has gone on his watch, and that started almost immediately with the proliferation of detailed rules that were diddled with almost yearly. There were so many details that refs were busy watching lines & body parts and counting times that they stopped watching the actual flow of the plays, which is what really allowed 'flopping' to rise to the fore. Trying to define every little aspect of the game is also what led to coaches doing their best to exploit every rule, which has been detrimental to the game, too.

I really thought most of the rule changes that you're referring to came well after and to a certain extent because of coaches doing their best to exploit the rules and the refs. I think this happened primarily because of Chuck Daly although Mike Dunleavy, Hubie Brown and eventually Pat Riley also did their part.

I don't like what's happened with the refs under his watch and I've never really cared for the measures he's put in place to try and resolve these problems. Instead of dealing with the problems he addressed solely the PR aspects of the reffing. It's a tough game to call and it's not like there's room to add refs either.

As for people defending Stern, I don't see much of that on here. In fact, I thought I was pretty much the only one. I can't give you specifics, all I can say is that the game appeared to be dying and under his watch, that changed.

I'm sure you remember that there were a lot of weeks during the season when CBS wouldn't even show a single game. Add to that the way they mismanaged the playoffs and then compare it to what's occurred since Stern took over. Maybe someone else deserves all the credit for this and Stern deserves all the blame for the problems that followed but in my experience, that's rarely the case.

Steve

 

[Chaplin]

As for people defending Stern, I don't see much of that on here. In fact, I thought I was pretty much the only one. I can't give you specifics, all I can say is that the game appeared to be dying and under his watch, that changed.

Perhaps not, but the Sarver haters definitely think Stern is the lesser of two evils, no matter if Robert actually had a valid point.

I'm not a Sarver lover, but even though Sarver screws up the Suns, Stern screws up the whole league.

 

[Mainstreet]

Perhaps not, but the Sarver haters definitely think Stern is the lesser of two evils, no matter if Robert actually had a valid point.

I'm not a Sarver lover, but even though Sarver screws up the Suns, Stern screws up the whole league.

Sometimes I wonder where you get these ideas.

 

[BC867]

(1) Stern and Sarver are both businessmen, concerned with revenue -- putting on a show.

(2) The agents and players put pressure on the league with their million dollar demands.

(3) Many fans are sports purists. Certainly we who participate on a sports board.

(1) and (2) rule!

(3) take a back seat to (1) and (2).

This is the 21st Century. Politicians run to run again, rather than serve the public. The league and the agents/players (the nuevo riche) are the same as the politicians.

Isn't it ironic? The public pays mega-bucks to be entertained as a diversion to what the politicians are doing to us.

They've got us by the short hairs.

 

[Dback Jon]

Sarver was right, for once

 

[Chaplin]

Sometimes I wonder where you get these ideas.

Try surfing the internet some time. Geez!

 

[Bufalay]

I've been aware of Stern ever since he took over and I haven't liked anything he's done - except when he's backed down from some earlier misteps, like the new plastic ball. Why don't some you guys remind me of the good things you believe he done for the game?

I remember hearing something about him making the league popular in the 80's by giving birth to Jordan, Bird and Magic in the 60's.

 

[Mainstreet]

Try surfing the internet some time. Geez!

I do. This is how I found you.

Chaplin, the world's a better place with you in it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I remember hearing something about him making the league popular in the 80's by giving birth to Jordan, Bird and Magic in the 60's.

It's not like the league didn't have popular stars such as Connie Hawkins, Dr J, Kareem, Wilt, Jerry West etc long before Stern took over. As I said, maybe he had nothing to do with resurrecting the league but it seems to me that if you blame him for every single thing that went wrong during his tenure he deserves some credit for the things that went right also.

Steve

 

[Chaplin]

I do. This is how I found you.

Chaplin, the world's a better place with you in it.

Tell me something I don't know.